Very large spontaneous electric polarization in BiFeO3 single crystals at room temperature and its evolution under cycling fields

TLDR: In this article, electric polarization loops are measured at room temperature on highly pure BiFeO3 single crystals synthesized by a flux growth method, and the resulting low leakage currents allow the authors to measure a large spontaneous polarization in excess of 100μCcm−2.

Abstract: Electric polarization loops are measured at room temperature on highly pure BiFeO3 single crystals synthesized by a flux growth method. Because the crystals have a high electrical resistivity, the resulting low leakage currents allow the authors to measure a large spontaneous polarization in excess of 100μCcm−2, a value never reported in the bulk. During electric cycling, the slow degradation of the material leads to an evolution of the hysteresis curves eventually preventing full saturation of the crystals.